The Cleveland Browns have signed cornerback Michael Coats Jr. to their practice squad, bringing back the undrafted rookie after a brief stay on the 53-man roster (via Spotrac.com’s NFL transaction log).
Coats is listed at 5-foot-9 and 184 pounds, so he is a bit undersized. However, he is definitely an intriguing pickup for the Browns.
The former West Virginia standout spent the entire 2026 preseason in Cleveland after signing as an undrafted free agent in May.
He made the initial 53-man roster following final cuts, then was waived Sept. 1 to create space for veteran additions, including cornerback Noah Igbinoghene and defensive end Sam Williams. After clearing waivers, he returned to Berea on the practice squad.
The 25-year-old’s path to the NFL is unconventional. Born June 20, 2001, in Louisville, Mississippi, Coats attended Biloxi High School but did not play football there. He began his college career at East Central Community College from 2020 to 2022 before transferring to Nevada for the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
At Nevada, he earned first-team All-Mountain West honors in 2024. He finished at West Virginia in 2025, starting all 12 games and recording 30 tackles, seven passes defensed and a fumble recovery. Across 35 FBS games at Nevada and West Virginia, he totaled 84 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, five interceptions, 24 passes defensed and one fumble recovery.
Coats impressed during training camp and the preseason despite his size. He intercepted a pass against the Chicago Bears on Aug. 15 and consistently disrupted receivers. Head coach Todd Monken praised his daily production while the secondary dealt with injuries.
An ankle issue limited him late in camp but was not expected to be long-term. His pro day numbers—a 4.41-second 40-yard dash, 36-inch vertical and 10-foot-8 broad jump—helped explain why Cleveland kept him around after the draft.
For the Browns, the move adds familiar depth at a position that has seen turnover. Practice squad members can be elevated for games, giving Coats a chance to stay in the system and compete if injuries or performance open a roster spot.
The rookie defender is older than the typical undrafted prospect, but his ball skills and competitiveness earned him a second look after he was one of the feel-good stories of camp.
The signing rounded out Cleveland’s 16-man practice squad heading into the regular season. Coats remains a developmental piece whose next opportunity will depend on how the secondary holds up and whether he stays healthy.
For a player who never played high school football and went undrafted, remaining in the building after a roller-coaster week is a meaningful next step.
